New Delhi, August 18, 2025 – Amid cheers and national pride, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut, landed in Delhi on August 17 after his groundbreaking journey aboard the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian Air Force test pilot, who splashed down off California’s coast on July 15 following an 18-day orbital mission, was welcomed by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi at the airport. Shukla’s return not only revives memories of India’s first space traveler but also propels the country’s space program forward, underscoring decades of innovation led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, the Ax-4 mission—organized by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and ISRO—saw Shukla serve as mission pilot alongside an international crew. During his time in orbit, he conducted over 60 experiments, focusing on microgravity research in human physiology, materials science, stem cells, and Earth observation for climate monitoring—areas critical to India’s scientific priorities. The spacecraft undocked from the ISS on July 14 and safely returned the next day, with Shukla completing post-mission evaluations in the U.S. before heading home. He is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon, sharing mission artifacts like patches and space-captured images of India.
Shukla’s achievement is deeply rooted in India’s storied space program, which began modestly in 1969 with ISRO’s founding under visionary leaders like Vikram Sarabhai. From launching the nation’s first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975 with Soviet assistance, to achieving self-reliance with the indigenous SLV-3 rocket in 1980 that orbited the Rohini satellite—making India the sixth country to do so—ISRO has built a legacy of cost-effective innovation. Key milestones include the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) series, which has enabled over 50 successful launches, and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for heavier payloads. Planetary exploration highlights feature the 2008 Chandrayaan-1 mission, which discovered water molecules on the Moon, and the 2014 Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars on its debut attempt and the fourth globally. More recently, Chandrayaan-3’s 2023 soft landing near the lunar south pole positioned India as the fourth country to achieve a lunar touchdown, while the Aditya-L1 solar observatory and the 2025 Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) demonstrate advancements in solar studies and orbital technologies. With 124 spacecraft missions and 94 launches to date, ISRO’s frugal engineering has earned it a reputation as a global leader in affordable space access.
This progress echoes the pioneering flight of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, who ventured into space in 1984 aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 as part of the Interkosmos program. Spending eight days on the Salyut 7 station, Sharma conducted experiments in biomedicine and remote sensing, famously describing India from orbit as “Saare Jahan Se Achha” (better than the whole world) in response to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. His mission, 41 years ago, symbolized India’s early ambitions in human spaceflight, though subsequent Indian-origin astronauts like Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams flew under NASA’s banner.
Shukla’s Ax-4 participation, stemming from a 2024 ISRO-Axiom agreement, aims to bridge this gap by providing real-world experience in ISS operations, crew dynamics, and microgravity adaptation—essential training for India’s independent human space endeavors. This directly supports the Gaganyaan program, ISRO’s flagship initiative to launch three to four astronauts into a 400 km low Earth orbit for up to seven days using an indigenous spacecraft and rocket. Objectives include demonstrating reusable thermal protection, navigation during communication blackouts, and safe re-entry, while fostering advancements in life support systems and crew selection. Now targeted for 2027, Gaganyaan will make India the fourth nation—after Russia, the U.S., and China—to achieve crewed spaceflight independently.
For India’s space program, Shukla’s mission signifies a pivotal leap toward self-reliance and global stature. It enhances international collaborations, accelerates technology transfers, and reduces risks for future missions, including plans for an Indian space station by 2035 and manned lunar exploration by 2040. Economically, it boosts the burgeoning space sector, projected to grow from $8 billion to $44 billion by 2033, while inspiring STEM education and national unity. As Prime Minister Modi hailed in a statement, “This is not just a return; it’s a launchpad for India’s cosmic dreams.” With Gaganyaan on the horizon, Shukla’s homecoming reaffirms India’s trajectory as an emerging space superpower, blending heritage with horizon-bending ambition.
